iMageTech iMage A6 wireless speakerphone and iMage M6 base station: review and test
Maxim Liadov
The iMage brand belongs to iMageTech, which has specialized in professional conferencing equipment since 2001. Its products are now available on the Russian market, so we decided to introduce them to our readers.
All the products focus on easy use, simple setup, and expansion. The iMage A6 speakerphone connects to a computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet. No extra software or system administrator is needed. It works immediately through wired or wireless connections.
The 6 in the name means that up to 6 units can work together. Adding the required number of speakerphones allows a good conferencing setup in meeting rooms of any size, with different table layouts and participant positions.
A USB dongle doubles coverage by adding a second speakerphone. The optional iMage M6 base station links up to 6 speakerphones and provides compatibility with popular video conferencing systems.
iMage A6 specifications
| Microphone frequency response | 100–20000 Hz |
| Microphone | Omnidirectional |
| Microphone pickup range | 3 m |
| Loudspeaker | 3 W, full-range |
| Maximum short-term output level | 91 dB |
| Loudspeaker frequency response | 114 Hz–12 kHz |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 65 dBA |
| SPL | 77 dB |
| THD | <3% |
| Battery capacity | 2600 mAh |
| Operating time | 10–18 hours |
| Standby time | Up to 300 hours |
| Bluetooth | 5.0(HFP,HSP,AVRCP,A2DP) |
| Wireless connection range | Up to 20 m with line of sight |
| Wireless Output | Class 2 |
| Antenna | Built-in |
| Frequencies | 2402–2480 MHz |
| Channels | 79 |
| Power supply | Battery and USB |
| Voltage | 5 V, 550 mA |
| Connections | USB Bluetooth, Video conferencing systems through the M6 base station (not included) |
| Operating systems | Windows, Mac OS |
| Dimensions | 140 × 45 mm |
| Weight | 420 g |
| Package contents | Micro-USB cable, manual |
The speakerphone is relatively compact and light, so it can be taken on trips. Battery life is impressive: up to 18 hours of calls and 300 hours on standby. Bluetooth 5.0 is well suited to wireless connections with different devices.
Connections are on the right, under a rubber cover. There is a micro-USB port and a reserved D-IO port. The supplied two-meter cable provides a long connection to a desktop or laptop. The operating system immediately detects the speakerphone and uses a standard driver.
The all-plastic housing has an aluminum-style finish, fitting modern offices with Apple MacBooks and ultrabooks. A slight forward slope on the top panel adds visual interest. Silicone buttons light up according to the current mode. Pressing the housing produces no creaks or movement, so it does not feel cheap. Assembly is good, with no visible screws or gaps. The design is fairly simple, but everything needed is present.
MODE selects one of four modes: 1) Link for an iMageTech Dongle or iMageTech M6 base station; 2) wired USB; 3) wireless Bluetooth; 4) wired connection.
Users of any experience level can operate the speakerphone. Short presses of the speaker-symbol buttons adjust volume, shown on an LED scale.
Standard buttons answer and end calls, mute the loudspeaker, and mute the microphone. Red illumination clearly shows muting. The buttons themselves are silent, so a short loudspeaker beep confirms each press.
A single full-range driver with a maximum power of 3 W sits behind the openings. One speakerphone is enough for a small meeting room with up to 6 people. Wired and Bluetooth connections both provided high call quality, enough volume, and very clear speech. There was no overload at maximum volume. The remote participant could not hear the microphone mute button being pressed, thanks to the soft, almost silent silicone buttons. This allows the user to cough or speak briefly to someone nearby without being heard at the other end.
When one hour or less of battery life remains, the power indicator flashes red. Full USB charging takes 2–3 hours. The speakerphone remains usable during charging.
A simple way to extend coverage is to connect two speakerphones through the branded iMage Dongle USB adapter. It supports Bluetooth 5.0.
Pairing the dongle with any external iMage device follows the same procedure, regardless of operating system. Using the supplied metal pin or another pointed object, hold the recessed dongle button for 2 seconds until the LED inside the hole starts flashing.
The photo uses a short USB extension cable to make the procedure visible. On our laptop, the holes would otherwise be underneath the dongle. The dongle then automatically finds the speakerphone in Link mode. A steady white LED confirms that it is ready. To pair the second speakerphone, repeat the procedure using the button in the second hole.
The system also includes the iMage A7 wireless clip-on microphone. It can connect through normal Bluetooth or join the same system through a dongle or base station.
The microphone measures 73 × 25 × 20 mm and weighs 20 g. It supports Bluetooth 5.0. Its 260 mAh battery provides 10–12 hours of use and 150–160 hours on standby. The polar pattern is omnidirectional, with a pickup distance of 20–100 mm. A wired earpiece is included and plugs into the clip-on microphone. This allows a presenter to show material on a large screen while fully participating in the conversation.
The iMage M6 base station links up to 6 iMageTech devices. Holes underneath allow vertical wall mounting. Top-panel buttons find and link devices in one network.
The station accepts a wired or wireless source. The rear has a micro-USB port and extra line input and output sockets for connection to video conferencing systems. A 5 V power adapter and all required long cables are included.
We tested a base station with 5 speakerphones and a microphone. All devices connected successfully and worked together wirelessly without conflicts with active Wi-Fi networks. We liked the high-quality sound of the built-in loudspeaker. In practice, the best speech pickup came from speaking calmly at about 1 meter. The speakerphone raised the level correctly and sent a suitable voice signal to the other participant. There was no need to move closer or raise the voice. Modern processing, including echo cancellation, is supported. When we switched from a smartphone's speakerphone mode to the iMage connected to the same phone, the remote participant reported much clearer speech and a more comfortable conversation.
Call quality depends strongly on internet speed. With a mobile connection whose speed is not guaranteed, conferencing applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Microsoft Teams may automatically lower the bitrate. Audible artifacts can result. Users may blame the speakerphone, although the application and internet connection are responsible. For stable, comfortable calls, we recommend connecting the computer or smartphone to broadband internet. The application can then choose higher-quality audio transmission and maintain a high bitrate. This allows the speakerphone to perform at its best.
Conclusions
The iMage A6 meets current requirements for business speakerphones. It is small, light, easy to use, supports wired USB and Bluetooth 5.0, and runs for a long time on battery. We especially liked the loudspeaker sound and the silent silicone buttons. The speakerphones work with any operating system and mobile device. Extensive expansion options allow users to build a complete iMageTech system.
Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/microphones/image-a6.shtml.